Louis schulze



(No Model.)

L. SGHULZE.

SNOW GLEARER POR TRACKS, m.

N0.294,08'4. Patented Feb. 26, 1884.

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LOUIS SOHULZE, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PATENT Orricn.

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO VILLIAM BRISOOE, OF SAME PLACE.

sNowL-CLEARER FOR TRACKS, see.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Ne. 294,084, aerea February 2e, 1884'.

Application filed March 20, 18H3. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.LA

Be it known that I, Louis ScHULZn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelhereby declare the following phia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snow-Clearers for Tracks, Jvc.; and I do to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates fto improvements in snow and track clearers; and the object is to construct a snow and track clearer by which the snow and ice on streets can be very thoroughly and eftectually removed from the streets and tracks,and without noise, by which the anent figures of the narrow pipe, b,

' sweepers, and meshing with bevel-wheels on an upright shaft, e. bevel-wheelsf and 'g, from an engine-shaft.

imals are frightened, and at'the same time to convey the water away from the track or cen-` ter of the streets, where it would freeze.

The inventionconsists in the constru ction and arrangement of parts of the machine, as will be more fully described hereinafter and more specifically pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

Like letters indicate like parts in the differdrawings, in whichd Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my machine or apparatus, partly in section. Fig. 2 is arear view of the snow and ice melter. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the inclined sweepers.

In the drawings, A represents a suitable frame-work or platform supported on wheels made to t the tracks. At the forward end of this platform is placed a transverse furnace or heater, B, closed on all sides excepting at the upper corner, where it connects with a iiat and )referably lined with fire-clay, and made of sheet-iron, and through it the iiames and products of combustion are 'forced by a blower, C, and a pipe, c. The ice and snow are melted by this furnace and pipe. Close to this is arranged a pair of revolving sweepers, d d', supported in suitable bearings, and' operated by a bevel-wheel on one or both rlhis shaft is operated by a pulley driven by a belt,

erably a verticalone, so as to take up less room. A larger revolving sweeper or brush, D, also supported in suitable bearings, is arranged close behind the inclined sweepers d d. The object of inclining these sweepers is to convey the snow toward the center of the track, and they are preferably connected by'a universal joint or coupling. The sweeper D is driven in a similar manner by gearing and pulley from the engine.

In close proximity to sweeper D is arranged 4an endless carrier or elevator, E, in a casing,

c', having a catcher, E', at its lower end, and operated by sprocket-wheels and suitable gearing. Under the forward end of the casing is placed a small brush, K, by which any snow may be brushed toward the larger sweeper and clear the track. by the elevator to the upper end of the melter F, in which is arranged a trough or receiver, g, made of strong iron. This trough is provided with a bottom inclining both ways from the center, so that the water can run toward the sides. It is placed overa suitable fire on the grate h, and a space is left on each side, so that the llames and heat'can pass upward and can be blown downward by a blast of air from the blower C and pipe c. At the upper end of said trough is arranged a downward projecting flange, i, which directs the flames, Ste., into the trough and melts the snow, the., as it drops into said trough. Suitable furnace and ash-pit doors are provided, as shown at k, Fig. 2. On each side of the trough, and communieating therewith, are arranged the pipes G, provided with a swivel, ball, or union joint, g', so that they can be moved in any direction desired. Y By these pipes the melted snow or water can be conveyed to the gutters or intoa tank placed on the truck H, from which it can be conveyed into the sewer-traps at the corners of the streets. On the truck H the wood or coal for tiring the boiler and melter can be carried. Under the elevator', and extending to the melter, is placed a tank, I, for supplying the engine-boiler with water, and said tank may be made large enough to receive the melted snow. The snow-water may be conducted This engine is prefl from tank I into the portable tank or truckH The snow and ice are conveyed on the machine, or into sewer-traps at the corners of the streets. The lower end of the casing e is bent upward to forni a catclrlecepta'- cle for the snow thrown on it by the brush D. The pipes G, as well as the blow-pipes, may be provided with suitable valves.

The operation is as follows: The fires being started and the engine set in motion, the products of combustion and heat are forced through the fiat pipe b, and the ice, Sto., are melted in case the snow is frozen on top. The tw'o inclined brushes d and d then sweep the snow toward the center of the track, when it is taken up by the large brush D, which sweeps it on the catcher E or receptacle at the lower end of the elevator-casing e. The elevator E then conveys the snow upward and empties it l into the melter g,.where the snow is melted by the fire from above a's well as from below. The water is then conveyed through the swivelpipes G either into the tank I or toward the gutters of the street. Any sediment or sand is also conveyed through the said pipes, which are therefore made eXtra large.

Having th us described myinvention, wliat'I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ism- 1. The combination of the-inclined sweepers el df, the large sweeper D, the small sweeper K, and the elevator E, and melter F, all arranged substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the furnace F, having receiver g and grate h, with the blast-pipe c and blower C, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

,3. In a snow-clearer, the receiver g in the furnace F, arranged to have heat applied from above as well as from below, in combination with the swiveled pipes G, arranged for the purpose described.

In a snow-clearer, the combination of a furnace, F, and melter g, having heat applied from above and below, with a tank, I, convey. Y

ing the water from the melter to any distances,

substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In combination with a furnace, B, having flat pipe b, therevolving brushes and elevator, arranged as shown, the furnace F, and melter g, arranged to have heat applied above and below, substantially as specified.

6. The snow-clearer herein described, consisting of a frame, A, a furnace, B, having flat pipe Z1, the blower C, the inclined brushes d d', brushes D and K, elevator E, furnace F, provided with melter g, the tank I, and truck H, with suitable engine and driving machinery, substantially as specified.

7. The method herein described of clearing snow from streets, &c. consisting in first loosening the snow by a hot-blast, then sweeping it toward the center, then sweeping it on a catcher, E', then elevating it and dumping it into a furnace with melter, and finally conveying the water into a tank or into the gutters, substantially as specified. Y

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my sig` nature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS SCHULZE.

Witnessesz LLOYD F. KELEHER, ALEX. SIMON. 

